ITN and BBC news crews stranded at Stansted airport have been cleared for take off this evening, although they are not to be first out of the country as they originally hoped.
The broadcasters chartered a plane to fly 100 presenters and crew, including the BBC's Kate Adie and George Alagiah and ITN's Jon Snow and Dermot Murnaghan, to the US.
After being held at Stansted for over 48 hours awaiting a decision over whether US authorities considered it safe to fly, they have been allocated a slot to fly out mid-evening. However, representatives are continuing to try and secure an earlier take off time.
Broadcasters were led to believe they were among the first in the queue to get to the US, but demand for air travel will be at a premium as US citizens struggle to get home and security, government and army officials head from the UK for America.
American transport authorities have reopened the skies today, although only those airports meeting stringent new security measures will be allowed to operate. Departure lounges will only be open to those flying and passengers will no longer be allowed to check in by phone or from their hotel.
Airlines have suspended their normal schedules as they try to get the 153 flights diverted to other locations on Tuesday back to their destinations.
"From this day forth we are operating with heightened security. We will not allow this enemy to win the war by restricting our freedom," said the the US transportation secretary, Norman Mineta.
